Vehicle with Moving Eyes

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle has a body, at least one wheel associated with the body, a panel having at least one opening, and an actuation system positioned inside the body. The actuation system has a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source. An eye module is positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening, and mechanism for causing the eye to move when the switch is turned on to actuate the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to toy vehicles, and in particular, to toy vehicles having eyes that can move.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Toy vehicles have been popular toys and novelty items for a long time. Children and adults alike have enjoyed playing with toy vehicles, such as cars, trains, boats and planes.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle with eyes that can move.

In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the toy vehicle according to the present invention includes a body, at least one wheel associated with the body, a panel having at least one opening, and an actuation system positioned inside the body. The actuation system has a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source. An eye module is positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening, and mechanism for causing the eye to move when the switch is turned on to actuate the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the eye module of FIG. 2 shown in a rest position.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of the eye module of FIG. 3A shown in an actuated position.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the eye module of FIG. 2 shown in a rest position.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional side view of the eye module of FIG. 4A shown in an actuated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a toy vehicle 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated as a car. The vehicle 10 has a body 12 with wheels 14. A front panel 16 includes a windshield 18 that is provided with two openings 20, with each opening 20 adapted to allow a movable eye 22 to extend therethrough.

Referring to FIG. 2, an actuation system is positioned inside the body 12 of the vehicle 10. The actuation system is adapted to cause the movable eyes 22 in an eye module 24 to move up and down. The actuation system includes a PCB board 26, a speaker module 28, a power source 30, a switch or button 32, and wire that connects these components to each other and the eye module 24. The PCB board 26 includes a controller module 38 that includes a processor and memory, and is coupled to the eye module 24 by wire 40. Another wire 42 couples the PCB board 26 to the speaker module 28, and yet another wire 44 couples the PCB board 26 to the power source 30, which can be a battery compartment or battery box. Finally, another wire 46 couples the switch or button 32 to the PCB board 26. The user can actuate the actuation system by turning on the switch or button 32 (e.g., pressing the button 32). This causes a speaker in the speaker module 28 to emit certain sounds that are pre-stored in the memory in the controller module 38, while also causing the eyes 22 to move up and down. The power source 30 provides the necessary power to power the speaker and the eye module 24.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3A-3B, according to one embodiment, the eye module 24 has a housing 50 that has an opened front end 52, and an opening 54 in the rear end 56 through which the wire 40 extends. A motor 58 is positioned inside the housing 50 and connected to the wire 40, and is operatively coupled to two gear sets 60, with one gear set 60 on each side. Each gear set 60 includes at least two gears, with one gear coupled to the motor 58, and another gear coupled to a block 62 that has an eye 22 positioned at an outer end. The eye 22 can be a fabricated eye that is made of plastic or any other inexpensive material, and designed to make it look like a human eye. Each block 62 also functions as a weight. As shown in FIG. 2, there are two gear sets 60 and two eyes 22 in each eye module 24.

FIG. 3A shows the eyes 22 in their rest position. In this rest position, the weight of each block 62 causes the accompanying eye 22 to pivot up through the force of gravity acting on the block 62. When the switch or button 32 is turned on, the motor 58 is actuated, causing the gear sets 60 to rotate, thereby causing the blocks 62 to be rotated downwardly. This causes the eyes 22 to move down, thereby creating the impression of moving eyes 22. When the switch or button 32 is turned off, power to the motor 58 is cut off, so that the gear sets 60 stop rotating, and the weight of each block 62 causes the accompanying eye 22 to move up through the force of gravity on the block 62.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate another embodiment of the eye module 24 according to the present invention. The eye module 24 a in FIGS. 4A-4B has a housing 50 a that has an opened front end 52 a, and an opening 54 a in the rear end 56 a through which the wire 40 extends. A coil 58 a having a copper wire is secured to the top of the housing 50 a and is connected to the wire 40. A pair of magnets 62 a are positioned inside the housing 50 a, and each has an eye 22 positioned at an outer end. The eye 22 can be a fabricated eye that is made of plastic or any other inexpensive material, and designed to make it look like a human eye. Each magnet 62 a also functions as a weight.

FIG. 4A shows the eyes 22 in their rest position. In this rest position, the weight of each magnet 62 a causes the magnet 62 a to drop down through the force of gravity, thereby causing the accompanying eye 22 is pivot upwardly. When the switch or button 32 is turned on, the coil 58 a is actuated by an electromagnetic field, attracting the magnets 62 a, thereby causing the magnets 62 a to pivot upwardly towards the coil 58 a. This in turn causes the eyes 22 to pivot downwardly (see FIG. 4B), thereby creating the impression of moving eyes 22. When the switch or button 32 is turned off, power to the coil 58 a is cut off, so that the weight of each magnet 62 a again causes the magnet 62 a to drop, and the accompanying eye 22 to pivot upwardly.

The eye module 24 can be secured adjacent the openings 20 in the windshield 18, although the eye module 24 can even be positioned at another location of the toy car, such as behind the headlights. In addition, the eye module 24 can also be utilized in connection with other toy vehicles, such as toy trains, toy boats, toy airplanes and other vehicles.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy vehicle, comprising: a body; at least one wheel associated with the body; a panel having at least one opening; an actuation system positioned inside the body, the actuation system having a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source; an eye module positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having: at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening; a motor coupled to the controller; and a gear set coupling the motor with the eye; wherein actuation of the motor causes the gear set to rotate, thereby causing the eye to pivot.
 2. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the eye is secured to a block which is coupled to the gear set, with the block functioning as a weight to cause the eye to pivot upwardly under the force of gravity on the block when the eye module is at rest.
 3. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein the eye pivots downwardly when the motor is actuated.
 4. The toy vehicle of claim 1, further including a speaker coupled to the controller, with the speaker actuated to produce a pre-stored sound when the eye is pivoted.
 5. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the opening is provided in a windshield of the toy vehicle.
 6. A toy vehicle, comprising: a body; at least one wheel associated with the body; a panel having at least one opening; an actuation system positioned inside the body, the actuation system having a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source; an eye module positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having: at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening; a magnetic coil coupled to the controller; and a magnet block to which the eye is secured; wherein actuation of the magnetic coil causes the magnetic coil to generate an electromagnetic field, thereby attracting the magnet block and causing the eye to pivot.
 7. The toy vehicle of claim 6, further including a speaker coupled to the controller, with the speaker actuated to produce a pre-stored sound when the eye is pivoted.
 8. The toy vehicle of claim 6, wherein the opening is provided in a windshield of the toy vehicle.
 9. The toy vehicle of claim 6, wherein the magnet block drops downwardly under the force of gravity when the eye module is at rest, with the eye pivoted upwardly.
 10. The toy vehicle of claim 9, wherein the magnet block pivots upwardly when the magnetic coil is actuated, causing the eye to pivot downwardly. 